“I Don’t Understand You” follows Dom and Cole, whose romantic getaway to Italy quickly goes completely off the rails.
A Comedy of Errors… Until it Isn’t
“I Don’t Understand You” takes its time setting up the characters. On the surface, the first half feels low-stakes, but it smartly invests in Dom and Cole’s relationship – their goals, personalities and desires – before flipping the story on its head. This character work is what keeps the film grounded, even as the plot begins stretching plausibility.
There’s comedy for everyone here, from language barrier jokes to playful generational misunderstandings. As things spiral, that humor takes a darker turn. “I Don’t Understand You” thrives on escalating simple miscommunications into full-blown chaos, especially with two privileged Americans caught in a wildly unfamiliar situation.
This comedic edge stays present throughout the 97-minute runtime – for better or worse.
A Tonal Tightrope that Doesn’t Always Hold
The film’s biggest flaw is how dark it’s willing to go. The jokes keep flying, but what happens on screen can be deeply sinister and unsettling. Sometimes this tonal whiplash works, but often it doesn’t. The result is a film that feels almost unbelievable in spots, undermining the careful character work that came before it.
These inconsistencies especially hurt the ending. After investing so much time developing Dom and Cole, the characters suddenly make choices that feel wildly out of sync with who they are. The conclusion also feels rushed, brushing away the horrors that just unfolded in favor of a neat wrap-up that doesn’t fully land.
“I Don’t Understand You” clearly wants to be a horror comedy, but there are stretches where it feels like neither.
Carried by its Cast, Saved by its Heart
What keeps “I Don’t Understand You” afloat is the acting. Nick Kroll (Dom) and Andrew Rannells (Cole) are electric together, selling the relationship with perfect comedic timing and a genuine connection. Amanda Seyfried (Candice) makes the most of a smaller role, with her presence looming large over the entire narrative.
Morgan Spector (Massimo) delivers a performance that will be glossed over by many, but he deserves recognition as well. His brief role injects both tension and unexpected humor, elevating every scene he’s in.
Despite its tonal messiness, “I Don’t Understand You” remains an entertaining ride. It struggles to fully reconcile its horror and comedy elements, but the emotional weight of Dom and Cole’s relationship pulls it through. The end result is a thoughtful, heartfelt and occasionally comedically horrific experience — even if it’s never quite sure what it wants to be.
Rating: 3 out of 5
